Watch Chip Yates blow away electric motorcycle record at Pikes Peak

This past weekend, Chip Yates checked off "make an amazing run up Pikes Peak" from his list of things to do to demonstrate the potential of electric-powered transportation. Coming second in the Exhibition Powersport class, his time of 12:50.094 bests the first-ever electric motorcycle effort made last year by over four minutes.

The run would no doubt have been more impressive had it not been for the 2.6-mile stretch of unpaved road. The bike went from hanging with the top ten to dropping just inside the top 100 on the dirt section. Overall, Yates finished in 30th place.

One thing is for sure, the 240-horsepower bike has crazy acceleration when it has clean pavement beneath it, and Chip says he's gunning for a top 10 or better result when he gives it a go on next year's completely paved surface. Hit the jump for the full run and enjoy the sound of the UQM motor's sweet electric music winding out up the mountain.

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Wow one of the coolest camera perspectives I've ever seen. Bravo! Sound and power of the electric bike is great but can't help wonder if the whine will ever get to the point it's as bad as a 'you know what's' drill.

Would like to have seen some telemetry data overlaid to see what speeds he was carrying through the sections. Electric is range limited, but for drag racing and time trials like this range doesn't really come into play.